MP for Bury North joins officers and partners on day of action in Bury town centre

Bury town centre recently celebrated its 10th year retaining Purple Flag status, a recognition of its commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy.

This work has continued with the introduction of three dedicated town centre rangers by Bury BID, who have been introduced as part of a wider initiative to improve safety, reassurance and public protection in the town centre.

Bury BID (Business Improvement District) is an organisation, funded by the businesses of Bury Town Centre, dedicated to improving the business environment and community life in Bury. With a mission of "Making Bury Better," Bury BID supports local businesses, organises vibrant events, and works to ensure a thriving and welcoming community for residents and visitors alike. The rangers focus on anti-social behaviour (ASB), reporting data and feeding intelligence and information back into GMP.

Recent activity from Bury neighbourhood officers working alongside specialist branches within GMP has seen:

• Over £37,000 worth of illicit goods including tobacco, toys and vapes seized in joint operations with trading standards
• Numerous e-bikes seized in a dedicated operation targeting their use and link to ASB
• Launch of a community speedwatch scheme to get residents involved in keeping their roads safe alongside officers

Inspector Kevin Wright of Bury’s neighbourhood team said: “This activity is just part of our ongoing commitment to working with partners to tackle concerns our communities may have in and around the town centre. 

“Since the start of our Safe4Summer campaign, we have seen a decrease in retail crime and street crime, with 115 stop searches conducted. Our officers continue to patrol anti-social behaviour hotspots as our communities should feel safe where they live and work.

“We would encourage our communities to keep reporting incidents and intelligence to ourselves as it all helps to build our patrol plans so we can target areas that matter to you. You can do this via our website or by calling 101. Alternatively, you can report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website.”

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: "Safe4Summer has played a key role in enhancing public safety across Greater Manchester, helping to reduce crime and disorder and revitalise town centres across the city-region.

“Initiatives like this are vital in ensuring that communities feel secure and supported, especially in busy areas like Bury town centre. As a central hub for residents across Bury, it’s crucial that people can enjoy the space confidently, whether they’re spending time with family, meeting friends, or supporting local businesses.

“It’s also encouraging to see local MPs actively engaging with the campaign and getting to see first-hand the strength of our partnerships. The collaboration between Greater Manchester Police, local authorities, and community organisations is a powerful example of what can be achieved when we work together towards a shared goal. These efforts are helping to reduce serious harm, improve visibility of policing, and build greater public trust in the criminal justice system. “

Greater Manchester takes its role in delivering this mission seriously, and we look forward to sustaining this activity into the future and toward creating safer, more resilient neighbourhoods for everyone."

The Safe4Summer initiative has already seen great successes – including 414 arrests across Greater Manchester for offences including ASB, retail crime, and violent crime since its launch at the end of June.

In addition, there has been more than 2,335 stop-searches, and thousands of policing hours dedicated to the hotspots.

 GMP has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening our neighbourhood offer in recent years, including providing every district with a named local officer, implementing our community messaging service Bee in the Loop, and adding 176 officers to our neighbourhood ranks.